miller



CHARLES G. MILLER, 0F SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

Letters Patent lVo. 75,444, elated Ill-arch 10, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

@ige Sdganle refont tu in tiges tcttn's @anni :un mating hrt at tige simu. l

T O ALL WHOM 1T MY GONCERN:

Beit known that I, CHARLES G. Mmmm, ot' Springfield, in the county of Clark, and State of Ohio, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Hnrvestcrs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of nay-machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

-Figure 3 is a view of the rear end of the rakeguidcrand latch.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the divider and grain-wheel.

Figure 5 is an inside elevation of the divider, showing't-he forward end of the rake-guide.'

Fig-ure 6 is a view of the mechanism by which the rake is driven, und its movements regulated.

Figure 7 is a front view of the forward ond of the shoe. l

Figure .8 shows the latch for preventing the cutter-bar from falling when the platform is raised.

Figure 9 shows the manner of attaching the rai e-hcad to the post around which it turns.

Figure 10 shows the manner of ,securing the reel to its standard.

Figure 1 1 is a side elevationsof the main frame, dragging-frame, lever, shoe, Ste.

Figure 12 is u section of the collar on the nut at the end ot' main axle.

Figure 13 is a view or thc heut lever, by which the driving-mechanism of the rake is connected with the main driving-wheel. v l Y Figure 14 is a rear lview of my machine, showing the platform, and all connected therewith, raised to nearly a vertical position for transportation. I

Figure 15 is a sectional `{iew of the raking-mechanism. v

Figure 16 shows the guide-frame of the rake, and manner of connecting the rake with the pitman; and,

Figure 17 shows the swivel-joint of the pitman, with the traveller, and thereby with the rake.

In describing my machine, we will call the part or parts nearest the standing grain or grass the ieft, and those on the opposite side the right.

The main frame A is made of cast iron, in one piece, and of the 'form shown in lig. 1. On the upper surface, near the rea-r cud of the main frame, are attached the boxes ct al, in which the axle B of the main drivingwheels C C rests, andby which the frame A with all upon it is supported. On the lower surface of the main frame, and at a proper distance forward from the rear end, are secured the boxes Zz b, in which the pinion-shaft D revolves. A- box, F, for carrying necessary tools, is cast in the forward part of the main frame, and beyond this hox is a narrow projection from the left-hand part of the frame, to which the tongue is secured. Near the same point of the main .frame is a part, E, projecting towards the left, just forward and beyond the driving wheel C, which turns backward to form n support to the mechanism which in part governs the motion of the rake. 'lhe driver-s scat is secured to the upper surface of the main frame, just to the rear of the tool-box7 in the usual manner. On 'the pinion-shaft D, points inside and next to the boxes 5 is hung the draggingframe G, which is of the form shown in tig. 1,. the rear portion being divided in two parts, one of which, projccting backwards at right angles to the axle B, .ias upon its upper surface the box e, in which the crank-shaft rests, and the other extends further back, and, turning to the left, supports the inner shoe of the cutting and raking-apparatus and rcel, hy means of the drngbur H, which extends from the part E of' the main franie, where it is hinged, backward through the lugs of the shoe and the ondof the dragging-frame. This draggingframe G is capable of oeng raised from the ground by means of the bent lever I lattached to the hook d in the frame, and which is pivoted to the lower part of a T-headed standard, rising from the main frame at the right of the box a', and forward of the axle B; The head of this standard is curved, having the fulorunrof the lever I for a centre, und is slotted to admit the lever, which has upon its right side a pin, to cat-oh in any one of a serios of holes on the right-hand side of the standard-head, and on the left side a spring, pressing against the left side of the head to retain itin any desired position. 'lhc two rear portions of the dragging-frame are connected and strengthened by a brace-bar, di, firmly secured te cach part.

'.lhe axle il projects beyond the sides of tho main frame, ou the right to receive the driving-wheel C', andl on the left the pulley J, which drives the rcel, the collar y', the driving-wheel 0,' and, beyond this last, the

mechanism for driving the rake. The driving-wheels C C have on the inside of cach a gear-wheel, KK', which give motion to the pinions L L on the shaft D, by which motion is communicated to the cutters through the bevel-gear wheels M and N. The bevel-wheel M is connected with the driving-wheels by the ratchet-collar f surrounding the shaft D at the left oflthe wheel M, and operated by a lever, g, which passes through an opening in the main frame, and is pivoted to a projecting arm of the standard, which supports the lever I, und kept in place by the hook 7L. At each end ofthe pinion-shaft D, but inside the pinion-wheels L L', are the ratchetclutchcs 2'1'., which permit the driving-whccls to be turned backward in backing the machine, or a single one to be reversed while the other is going forward when the machine is turned around. The crank-shaft O rests in the box c on the upper surf-acc of the dragging-frame, and is connected with the cutter-bar by the pitinan The pitman-hcad is in part composed of a T-shaped piccc of metal, into the lower end of which is a hole to receive the pitrnan y', which screws into it, and is retained firmly by the jam-nut c. The upper part of this T-hcad is grooved, and has at each cnd two holes. to receive the ends of the 1-shaped rod, which secures the wooden box af', in which thc wrist-pin turns, where they are secured by nuts o o. The pitmu-n-rod is attached to the cutter-bar by the hook at its lower` end, and thc swivel eye-bolt m.

The shoe l),y shown in figs. 2 and ll, is supported by the drag-bar H, which is hinged at the rear end of` the part E of the main frame outside the driving-wheel C, and passes through the end of the dragging-frame Gr. The forward end ofthe shoe P is turned up at right angles, and has a vertical slot in it to receive the bolt or drag-bar H, of such length as to permit the forward end of the shoe to be raised or lowered when it is necessary to elevate or depress the points of the cutters. On "each side of this slot are holes to receive a pin or pins, which, passing through, servcto retain the shoe in any desired p'osition. To the rear of the forward portion of the shoe, and at the left-hand side of the slot, is secured the standard Q. foi-'the support of the reel and the guidelframe R of the rake. This standard Q is securely fastened tc--the shoe, and from its point of support'projects upward and forward in a curve, whose centre is the centre of thc axle B, so that, at whatever height the reel may be placed, the pulley-cord will always be of the same tension. This standard Q also serves as a lever, by means of which the shoe, platform, rake, and reel may be turned upon the drag-bar H as a centre, and the outer portion velevated from the ground when it is desired to transport the whole from Yone eld to another, and the shoe, with all connected with it, may be held in :t nearly vertical positionby means of the rod p, which extends from the guard-finger bar g to the hook onthe dragging-frame at q', iig. 1. On the top ofthe guard-finger bar is a latch, s', to prevent the cutter-bar from falling out of its 'place when the platform is elevated in this vertical position. i.

The guard-finger bar is attached firmly to the upper surface of the shoe, and projects beyond it to tho right, so as to receive the post or standard S, which is the centre about which the ruhe turns. Upon this standurdis ahead, a', (see fig. 9,) to the lower part of which a bolt is secured, which passes downward through a vertical hole in the standard S, and is secured by a nut at its end. On the upper surface of this head 1 is a hemispherical depression to receive the ball on the end ofthe rake-head T. This is covered by a cap having a similar depression, and the two parts are held together by screws, the whole forming a ball-and-socket joint.

-The rake T is made as represented in figs. 1,2, and 9, and has upon the part passing over the guide-frame -R a sleeve, w, ofmetal, to prevent wear, and to the top of this sleeve is secured the hook s, which holds the rake in a horizontal position during a part o f its revolution. The guide-frame R, iig. 2, is secured by its forward end to the left-hand side of the forward part of the shoe, and extends backward in a curve, of which the standard S is the centre, beyond the platform far enough to allow the rake to deposit the cut grain clear ofthe platform. This frame Rhas a slot extending its whole length, and between the edges of which the traveller t is confined, so that it is free to move backward and forward. To the inner or left hand of this traveller is attached the upright arm u, which is connected with thc rake by the link o at the lower side ot' the sleeve zu. The top edge of the guide-frame R is horizontal for about two-thirds of its length from the forward end, where a flange, o, projects to the right, to the rear end of the frame, curving upward, under the outer or right-hand edge of which the hook s catches when it has, from the motion of the rake, passed beyond it, and turns the rake in a horizontal position, and retains it so until, in its forward movement, the hook s has passed the forward point of said flange. i

The forward end of the traveller t isi-connected with the driving-mechanism of the rake by the pitman U, one endV of which is hooked into the swivel eye-bolt 11:, passi-ng through the traveller, and secured there by a nut.

The platform V is a sector of about onesixth of a circle, whose centre is the standard S, and is made of thin boards, and attached to the lower edge of the guidefrarne R, byvits inner. end, and the forward edge to the guard-finger bar W. The outer end of this guard-finger bar W is attached to the shoe X, which supports the divider Y and the upright post of the grain or caster-wheel Z. This shoe X has rising from its inner upper surface a part, at', to which the divider is secured, thereby strengthening and supporting it. AThe forward end of the divider terminates in a cast point, y, which encl'oses it. To the upper surface ci' the platform, and at its outer edge, is secured the curved guideiz, which prevents the cut grain from sliding od the platform te the left, where it would be in the way in making the next round and on whose upper edge the lend of the rake is carried as it moves backwards. At the rear end ofthe platform are the hooks a a, to receive and retain the rod p, whenV not in use to support the platformirf a. vertical position. Near the forward end, ,and on thc'inside of the divider Y, is the end of the bent-rod, secured, which serves to throw the grain away fromthe' divider. This rod passes backward to the forward end of 4the guide of the rake, where it is secured, and the yend turns upward and backward, so as to keep`-the rake from'going beyond or forward of ,the cutters.l `Nearthe top of the divider, and at a proper point, is secured onecnd of the-,arched guide-rod d', which extends backward to the rear of the platform, where it is bent,- outwards and downwards, and the end secured near the end of the curved guide e, (sce figs. 1, 2, 3, and 0n the inner side of this guide-rod, and at or near the angle xl' is fastened the latch e', which is free to move, so that the rake in its backward progress may pass under it when it falls on the plate f at the end of the guide e. As the rakerpasscs forward it is prevented from going back on theguide e by this latch, but carried up and over the arched rod d' to the forward end, when it falls upon the guide-way c', when it is ready for another revolution.-

'The presence of a thick mass of cut grain upon the platform, er perhaps other causes, might sometimes -prevent the rake from turning to a vertical position as it falls over the front end of the guide d', and to insure the proper action at all times, the outer tooth u is made broader and ilatter than the other rake-tecth, and it is so placed that as the rake moves forward the endvof s aid tooth will strike upon the guide-rod ZJ', and the points of the teeth will be surely turned downward as desired. When thc traveller t begins to move forward ,in its reciprocatien, the rake T is caused to turn uponits side with the points bf the teeth forward, by the action ofthe link o, which operates against a point below the centre or axis of the rake-head; but when the motion of the traveller is reversed, and the link u pushes against the rake-head at this same point, the direction of the pressure will be downward as well as forward, and pressure against the front sides of the teeth will not causethe rake to turn upon its side. These movements are fully illustrated in figs. 2 and 16.v

The pitman U for driving the rake is curved slightly, so as to allow it to clear the guidcframe R of the rake. -The rake is driven directly bythe driving-wheel O; the crank B being provided with a catch, a, which engages with a corresponding catch, d, on the ring j, which is caused to revolve by thc hub of the drivingwheel, but, as it is of importance that the rake should move forward and return againas quickly as possible, so as to avoid as much as possible catching the falling grain upon it, I desire to cause thc rake to perform its stroke forward and backl again during one revolution of the driving-wheel, and to permit it to remain at rest at the rear of the platform during the succeeding revolution of said rake. Automatic fakes are generally geared so as to reciprocate forward and backward once to each two revolutions of the driving-wheel, and Iitlwill be perceived that by my plan the rake moves twice as fast as by the common arrangement, and will therefore perform its work with half the amount of loading from falling grain.

The main driving-wheel C is made with a long hub, through which the axle B passes, and on the outer part of this hub is the pitman-crank B', which turns freely vupon it, and has a limited lateral motion upon the same` Aportion'of the hub of the pitman-crank, at the outer end, is turned out on the inside largerithan the axle B, so

as to receive the spring o', which is coiled on the hub of the driving-wheel C. The hub of the pitman-crank B llas, upon its outer end, a catch, a, i g. d, and on the outer end of thc hub of the driving-wheel C is a catch, b.

Beyond the end ofthe hub of the wheel C the axle'B is made much smaller, and has a screw-thread cut upon it, on which the nut c is turned to secure all the parts together. This nut c is of the same diameter as the axle B, and has a. hcad made on it. to retain the ring j which tirns upon it. This ringj has on its edge next the wheel C a catch, c, corresponding with that on the hub of the wheel C, and it may be considered as a part of the same when the two are in contact. On the circumference of this ringj is a catch, d, corresponding to the one on the Pitman-crank hub.

The operation of these several parts will be readily 1understood. As the driving-whccl C revolves forward tbe catch Zi, on the outer end of its hub, retains the catch cIF of the ring j', andas they turn, the catch d comes in contact with the catch a, thereby giving motion to the pitman-erank B, and thence to the rake. This arrangement alone gives a quick revolution to the rake, and causes it to make a complete circuit to one revolution of the driving-wheel. In order now that the rake may still move as rapidly in its forward and backward strokes, and only make one revolution to two of the driving-wheel, I make use of the mechanism now to he described.

On the hub of the driving-wheel C, and free to turn thereon, between it and the pitman-cral'ik B', is the gear-wheelA, which engages with the wheel p and the U-shaped or split wedge m. This wheel 1J is twice the size of the wheel A, and makes one revolution to two ofthe latter. It is supported by the standard c, iig. 2, and has connected with it the eccentric, n. This eccentric, as thc wheel p revolves, works the wedge m', which is connected with'it by a strap passing around it, up and down upon the hu-b of the driving-wheel C, thereby forcing the pitmancrank B in contact with the catch d, so that it is caused to rcvolvc with thc wheel C, and as the thinpart of the wedge m is brought between the crank B and the wheel A', the spring o', before described, forces the crank B from .the catch d, and thehnb of the wheel C turns within it, and the rake remains sta.- tionary until such time as the crank I3 may be again brought into contact with the catch d. This mechanism is so arranged that when the rake has reached the rear of the platform, and swept thc grain Off the same, the thin portion of tac wedge m shall be brought between the crank B and the wheel A', and the spring o will force the crank B away from the catch d, and the rake will remain at rest during one entire revolution of the driving-wheel C; The wheel A is coupled to the wheel by means of the pin t, which passes through a hole in one of the armsor spokes ofthe wheel C to lthe ring'g, where it is secured. This ring y is'frec to slide upon the axle B next to inner part of the hub of the wheel O, and is grooved-on its circumference to receive the arms of the lever C, by means of which it is moved laterally, and the pin h withdrawn from or made to enter the hole in thc wheel A at the plea-sure ofthe driver. The lever Cl is pivoted atf on the main frame, and is worked by the foot-lerer g connected with it just forward of the tool-box. Itis also kcptin its proper position, and the pin L' in the wheel A', by the spring It.

By this arrangement, the rake only makes one revolution to two of the drivingwheel C, and if it should be necessary or desired to have the rake more as often again, or one revolution to one 0f the wheel C, 'the driver can, by pressing his foot upon the lever g just forward of the tool-box, and-which iS connected with the lever C, withdraw the pin it' from thc gear-wheel A at such time as the parts B andj are in connection, 4or when the thick part of the wedge m is between the wheel A and the crank B', and then thegeared wheel A" and wedge 'm' cease to move, and the rake will malte one revolution to one ot" the driving-wheel C, and by varying the size of the gear-wheel p' the rake may make one complete revolution to two, three, or more revolutions of the driving-wheeh At the same time, however, while it is removing tac Lgrain, ,its velocity will be the sume in either case, as it romains stationary such time as it is not removing the grain.

The grain or easter-wheel Z is secured to the outer sido of the divider Y by a post, F', which is secured to the shoe and top of the divider. On this post it is Ai'rec to move up and down, and in order that the outer part of the platform may not be too low, there is a sliding ring, G', on the post F','which can be set at any desired height by a set-screw, t.

The manner of attaching the roel P' to the standard Q is shown at figs. l and 10. The shaft et' the reel is hold in the long box o", in which it turns freely, motion being`communicated to itby pulley-cord passing over the pulley-wheel J on the axle B, and the wheel il" secured to the inner end ofthe reel-shaft. The box o" has a sliding head, t", cast with it, which is of suchV size as to iit the lever Q, one arm on Yeach side of said lever. Through these arms is a slot, in which the loose nut-harp" is 'placed when the reel is tobe usbd, and it may be attached rmly to any point of the lever Q by the tightening-screw q". t

The advantage of the use of a loose nut-bar, as described, is that when the thread ofthe screw or nut may' be worn out, any ordinary blacksmith would be able to replace them, which would not bc the case if the whole Wore solid.

To the forward and inner 'portion of the main frame E is secured the guard 1"' made of sheet metal, and

curving back, so as to deflect any standing grain that might otherwise come inside the shoe I), within range of the cutters.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, is-

l. Stopping the rake automatically at the rear of' the platform during each alternate revolution of the driving-wheel, by means of the herein-described mechanism, or the equivalent thereof, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the strap s",receentric at', and pinions p' and A', with the hubs of the driving-wheel and ralies'crank, substantially as described, for the purpose oi` throwing the rake in or out of gear automatically, as described.

3. The combination and arrangement ef the foot-lever g", collar g', clutch-pin h', running through the arm of the driving-wheel into the driving-pinion A, for the purpose of throwing the rake out of gear at the will oi' the attendant. V

4. The combination of the catch b", on the endl of the hub of the driving-wheel C, the collar j', provided with the catches c" and 0l", and the catch a", on the hub of the rake-crank, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth. I I

5. The shoe P, constructed .1s described, so that it may he adjusted and xed at its forward end in the manner set forth.

6. The reel-post Q, mounted upon the inner shoe, and curved forward, so that the attendant may grasp its upper end as a lever to raise the outer end of Vthe cutting-apparatus from the ground, as set forth.

7. The sliding carriage t, connected with the ruhe-head by the arm u and link' Y, arranged substantially as set forth, so as te push the rake backward with the teeth vertical, and draw said rake forward again-with the teeth horizontal.

8. The reel sliding head t", constructed with the loose nut-harp, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The spring-latch s', constructed as described, and for the purpose set forth.

10. The construction or .arrangement-of the cutting-apparatus, shoe P, automatic reciprocating ruhe, reci P', and their operative mechanism, in relation to thc main frame, so that the cutting-apparatus, with its raiic and reel, may be folded and so maintained while being moved from place to place, substantially as shown `and described.' A

1l. The guide-rods d and b', for the oute'r end oi' the rake, constructed and arranged as set forth and described, combined with the outer or guide-tooth uf' ofthe rake.

12. The hook s and iange 0": to retain the rake upon its side while being/.drawn forward, as set forth and described.

CHARLES CT., MLLER..

Witnesses:

It. D. O. SMITH, D. B. VENTRE. 

